St Mary's CofE Aided Infant School, Frensham

Overview

Pupils are described as “happy” and “enthusiastic learners” in this “small, friendly school” where relationships are “warm and supportive.” The report highlights a “well-designed curriculum” that builds knowledge effectively, particularly in reading, while noting that personal development provision is “exemplary.”

Strengths

• Pupils are “keen to be involved in their lessons,” confidently offering ideas and behaving well.
• Reading is “at the heart of everything,” with pupils mastering phonics quickly and receiving swift support if they fall behind.
• Personal development is “exemplary,” offering an “extensive range of opportunities” including leadership roles and community links.
• Staff adapt learning well for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), identifying needs “swiftly and accurately.”
• Governors and staff work together effectively, with staff feeling “well supported and part of a team.”

Areas to improve

• Ensure teaching activities are “sharply focused on pupils acquiring, understanding and applying the knowledge set out in the curriculum,” as tasks are occasionally not well matched to key knowledge.
• Roll out plans to refine and embed the new curriculum across the full range of subjects, as pupils currently do not learn in as much depth in some wider curriculum subjects as they do in English and mathematics.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.